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Free State official challenges suspension for attending anti-Zuma protest

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Wednesday, 17 May 2017 14:01

Netwerk24 reports that the state official who was suspended after he participated in a protest march against President Jacob Zuma has approached the labour court to get his suspension lifted.

Teboho Loate, chief director of sport, arts and culture in the Free State, has also requested that his suspension be declared unlawful and unconstitutional. In a statement to the court, Loate says that on 12 April he took leave and attended a protest march of opposition parties and community organisations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria that called for the resignation of Zuma. At the protest, he gave a comment to the press. Loate is a member of the national executive committee of Cope. Op 24 April, he received a letter from his head of department in which he was requested to provide reasons why he should not be suspended. According to the letter, he had made dishonourable statements against Zuma, which could have been a contravention of the code of conduct. After Loate answered, he was suspended on 2 May. At no time was he told what his unacceptable statements had been. One of the points made by Loate is that the provincial government and not Zuma is his employer. The hearing will apparently be at the end of the month. (Loosely translated from Afrikaans)